FAQ
Questions buyers ask before trialing. Short answers in trader register.
What time does Today's Read drop?
Twice every weekday. An early card is on the board before 6:30 AM ET, built from the previous afternoon's USDA close (~3 PM ET print), so the version you read with coffee already has the latest full print in it. Then, as the new close publishes through the late afternoon, the read rebuilds live: by roughly 4:30 PM ET you're looking at the same-day board.
Will this work on my phone?
Yes. The product is designed for desktop because that's where buyers work, but Cut Prices, the Chart, and Today's Read all render cleanly on iPhone Safari and Android Chrome. The Weekly Meat Read in your inbox is fully responsive.
What if my niche cut isn't covered?
We track every IMPS-coded cut USDA AMS publishes, every standard wholesale spec for beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. If you trade a non-IMPS spec or a private-label cut that doesn't show up in USDA reporting, write us at support@meatread.com. We'll tell you whether the closest IMPS proxy works for your need or whether you should stick with your existing source.
Can my team share the subscription?
Each subscription is a single seat. Sharing one login between two people works for personal use but breaks the watchlist and alerts sync. If you need real multi-seat for a procurement team, write us, we'll set up a team plan with one invoice and individual logins.
How do watchlist alerts work?
Set a target price and a direction (above or below). The alert fires the first time the daily USDA close meets or crosses your threshold, "above" fires at any print at or over the target, "below" fires at any print at or under. You get one email when it hits, then the alert disarms. Re-arm it from your watchlist if you want to keep tracking, that's deliberate, so a cut that oscillates around your threshold doesn't spam you. The scan runs once per business day after USDA's afternoon print.
How fresh is the data, in plain English?
USDA cutout and cut prices: in your dashboard the same evening USDA publishes (afternoon close ~3 PM ET, in your hands by ~5 PM ET). Weekly reports (retail features, drop value, variety meats): in your dashboard the day USDA publishes them. FX: live from public exchange feeds. Full methodology is on the About page.
Can I quote Meat Read with my customers or suppliers?
Yes, that's the use case. The read is yours to use in buying conversations, internal memos, and customer-facing discussions. We ask that you don't republish the daily read verbatim on a public website or in a paid newsletter you charge for. See the Terms page for the full attribution policy.
Where does the data come from?
USDA AMS, NASS, and ERS for U.S. wholesale beef/pork/chicken/turkey, slaughter, and trade data. CME for futures market context. Global Affairs Canada (EICS) for Canadian TRQ fills. Public exchange feeds for FX. The full source list lives on the About page.
Where do I cancel?
Anytime from your account, through the Stripe billing portal. Access continues through the end of your current paid month and the subscription doesn't renew. Full cancellation, refund, and price-change language is on the Terms page.